August 19, 2015 / / Uncategorized

The UC Berkeley Unofficial Checklist is here! [2019 edition]

Share
Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on FacebookShare on TumblrEmail this to someone

Dear Class of 2019 admits, international students, transfers, and all others,

I’d like to personally welcome you to UC Berkeley. My 1st year at UC Berkeley – such as short time – has thrown plenty of curve balls, challenging times, and surprises my way. Whether these were connected to UC Berkeley or not, I couldn’t be happier to be a Golden Bear. Embracing the University’s atmosphere made for a year that couldn’t of possibly have been made more fulfilling. We hope the 2 minutes you take scrolling through these curated tips will serve you well on your new journey.

Welcome Bears!

Commonly forgotten dorm room purchases

  • Icy Hot
  • Glass containers (serves as food storage, plate, and are microwavable)
  • Paper cups and plates
  • 2 Ply toilet paper
  • Febreze
  • Desk lamp
  • Paper towels
  • Mattress pad
  • Mattress topper
  • Lysol wipes
  • Clothes hangers
  • Shower sandals
  • Medicine
  • Power Strip
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Combination lock
  • USB Drive
  • Commando wall hooks
  • Posters for decoration & small whiteboard
  • Tide instant stain remover
  • Ethernet cord
  • Television cable NOTE: Your dorm housing pays the cable tab for your room.

A couple other suggestions,

  • Buy more socks. You’ll be surprised how fast you run out of clean ones.
  • Consider buying frozen fruit to store in your freezer. And also consider buying a small Magic Bullet to blend smoothies in your dorm room for a quick, healthy snack.

 

Curated tips by UC Berkeley sophomores

Join the UC Berkeley 2019 Facebook Groups

 

Pick up your bus pass. NOTE: It is a sticker placed on your student ID card.

NOTE: For more information, including where to pick up your bus pass, go to http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/c1c/static/actransit.htm

 

Find your lecture halls and discussion room before the first day of class. NOTE: Most halls are on Google maps. Here’s a map of campus, http://www.berkeley.edu/map

 

Don’t buy textbooks from the student store unless you really have to. That’s right, unless you need a newly released textbook specifically for your current semester, chances are upperclassmen are selling them at as low as 10% the price on the UC Berkeley Free & For Sale Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/266259930135554/

 

Get your free football season tickets! NOTE: Go to http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?linkID=cal

Click Student tickets (in the top menu bar) -> Find tickets -> Add to cart

 

Don’t be afraid to try new things. Remember, college is a whole new place if you treat it like so.

 

Create a LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/

Its the social network of choice for professionals. Think of it as a way to figure out and get those introductions you’d like. See this article https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-powerful-linkedin-ten-steps-tai-tran?trk=mp-reader-card by fellow bear, Tai Tran, to get started.

 

Always sign up for more classes rather than less. Remember, you can always drop classes, but may not easily be able to add new ones.

 

Add $ to your Cal1Card. This is different from meal points. If you plan to do laundry in the dorms, you’ll need to use your Cal1Card or change to pay. NOTE: The card website can be accessed at http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/c1c/static/index.htm

 

Navigating the unfamiliar campus can be made easy by using the Campanile (the tall pointy tower at the center of campus) as a point of reference. Also, be sure to utilize the free UC Berkeley campus GPS, AKA asking passing students which way your destination is.

 

If you’d like to receive mail while living in campus housing, instruct senders to address your envelope/package with this specific format:
Residence Hall Name
Student Name (your name)
Building name Room number
Street Address (See below for specific unit address)
Berkeley, CA Zip (See below for specific unit zip code)
An example:
Unit 1 Residence Halls
Ezzy Sriram
Slottman Hall 215A
2650 Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-2274

Unit 1 Residence Halls
2650 Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-2274

Unit 2 Residence Halls
2650 Haste Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-2278

Unit 3 Residence Halls
2400 Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-2276

Foothill Residence Halls
2700 Hearst
Berkeley, CA 94720-2292

Stern Hall
Hearst Avenue and Highland Place
Berkeley, CA 94720-2292

Clark Kerr Campus
2601 Warring Street
Berkeley, CA 94720-2288

 

If you’re going out for a night of partying at frat row or anywhere else, make sure to avoid carrying beer cans, solo cups, etc. outside the parties. Campus police commonly cite students displaying drinks outside on sidewalks/streets.

 

Remember the 10% waitlist rule. As a rule of thumb, the number of waitlisted students who get into a particular class is that class’ enrollment size / 10.

 

Go to Calapalooza, the semesterly fair where ALL campus organizations setup tables on Sproul. Even if you don’t know a particular organization you want to join, the first step is to talk to people who know what is out there! Calapalooza takes place on September 2, 2015 from 2-7PM in Sproul Plaza.

 

Store “backup” snacks and clothes to stay out of the inevitable dorm room hunger and laundry struggle.

 

Add your Berkeley.edu email to your phone.

NOTE:

Android phone: http://kb.berkeley.edu/campus-shared-services/page.php?id=25230

iPhone: https://kb.berkeley.edu/page.php?id=35269

 

Remember not everything will go as planned, and that’s Ok.

 

Sign up for your RSF membership (its free for students) at http://recsports.berkeley.edu/about/member-services/membership-types/uc-berkeley-students/ After signing up, your membership will be loaded onto your Cal1Card, so that’s all you’ll need to gain access to fitness facilities.

NOTE: Although the membership is free, you must still sign-up on the above website or in-person at the RSF. The membership gives you access to many facilities on campus, some including pools, that are overviewed here http://recsports.berkeley.edu/facilities/

 

Ask people for help! I realized all, if not a majority of college-related stress could be stifled by simply asking for help- if that’s your GSI, upperclassmen, or even students walking around campus.

 

Focus on your goals. Don’t get lost in the “I need to try everything mindset.” Trying new things is highly recommended, but remember UC Berkeley has a sizable student body of extremely hard workers and brilliant people. There are often multiple organizations/groups, rather than just one, that can nicely fit your needs.

 

Did you know you can take a Game of Thrones course for units? Take advantage of the Decal program. Decals, or student led courses, are a gem of UC Berkeley.

NOTE: Decal courses are taken for credit (AKA you get units) just like real courses. Don’t worry if you haven’t checked them out or signed up just yet. Decals’ first classes typically take place a couple weeks after the semester starts, so you haven’t missed a thing! See the list of Fall 2015 Decals at http://www.decal.org/courses/. I think of Decals as an opportunity to enjoy favorite subjects. regardless of your major, and without the obligations of a full-fledged course. To tour the Decal offerings in-person, check out the Decal Expo on August 28th from 5-7pm on Upper Sproul Plaza!

 

Check pass-no-pass deadline for your respective college (e.g. The College of Letter & Sciences is the 10th week of the semester) NOTE: Some courses must be taken for a letter grade to receive credit for them.

 

Get logged on to campus-wide wifi – Airbears 2. NOTE: Steps detailed here https://ist.berkeley.edu/airbears/

 

At first, it is extremely common to feel frozen among such a large campus environment. Remember everyone feels the same way, so go talk to people, meet people. The best advice I can give you to sift through the endless opportunities available to you is to talk to like-minded students and develop a familiarity with what you are really looking for.

 

When you head out in the morning, be sure to dress for the afternoon weather. Its when you’ll be running around campus the most.

 

If you’d like to be a step ahead of college procrastination, remember “I’ll do it later” means “I’ll do it never.” Tweak this mindset to a specific, actionable task “I’ll write 50% of the paper at 3:30pm” or better yet “Ok. I’ll get it done now.” Thanks to Forrest Sam, my Positive Psychology Decal Professor, for the insight.

 

Sign up for the UC Berkeley Police crime alert email list NOTE: Sign up here http://police.berkeley.edu/newselist.html

 

Sign up for UC Berkeley campus’ WarnMe alert system

NOTE: Sign up here https://warnme.berkeley.edu/

 

If you’re looking for the best time to run errands (e.g. get haircuts, quick shopping), do it in the middle of the hour, it’s when most students are in class.

 

The Professor can make or break your class. Keep in mind that you may be able to take a course next semester if you really need to. Just check with your academic advisor / upperclassmen to be sure.

 

FREE stuff with your .edu email

 

Something to add? Email Ezzy at ezzy@berkeley.edu

 

Need more help figuring things out? Spot a student on campus and just ask them for guidance. I promise you, UC Berkeley students want new admits to feel at home, so take the first step, and ask. Cheers

 

 

Ezzy

 

 

 

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

    Archives

    Categories

    Meta

    Ezzy Written by:

    Be First to Comment

    Leave a Reply